The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-27
AMERICAN TRADE AND TRAITS.


about the only use of consuls. These reports
relate to the trade and manufactures of for
eign countries, and to the possibilities of OPEN
ing up new lines of trade for American mer
chants and manufacturers. or of extending
old ones. They contain good deal Of sur
plusage owing to the fact that many of our
consuls have had very little business training
and are at sea when they come to deal with bust
ness questions. In this regard the United
States is at disadvantage among other ma
tons whose consuls are appointed, retained
and promoted in Office with special reference
to fitness and their success in establishing and
promoting trade relations. 1t stands to reason
that consular service organized and main
tanned on such basis, composed of men ami
mated by e common purpose and working to
a common end, must be more efficient and USE
full than one constructed as ours is-on a sort
of hit or miss principle by which the round
square sticks into round holes, ard many of
them very poor sticks at that. However, the
consular reports generally contain some mat
ters of interest. The last volume, No. ~ in
the series, is just issued. 1t contains reports
from twenty-five consuls at different points.
The consul at Tunstall England after com.
menting on the great attention given to tech
nical education in all European countries,
says:
'Not only is proper care taken abroad to
educate the young in trades and manu-
much greater attention there than might be
supposed. Especially in Germany do COM
mercial schools flourish. May not the sys-
tematic, thorough training of the German
and other European merchants be one of the
causes which has put the foreign trade of
America in the hands of foreigners, principal
ly Germans9 Other causes may contribute.
but the knowledge of the languages. the trad
ing methods. and the economies of different
countries certainly is not the least Of them"
There is much in this suggestion. There
has been great deal of speculation as to how
American trade might most successfully be
extended in foreign countries, but perhaps
sufficient attention has not been given to the
fact that American merchants and manufact-
urers are not, as rule, as thoroughly trained
and educated business men as those of Euro
pean countries. This may not be a very
patriotic suggestion, but it is probably true
It takes a good deal more to constitute a
thorough business man or successful mer-
chant on large scale than enterprise, energy,
boldness and dash. These have their place,
but they must be held in severe
check. The trained merchant, ac-
cording to the European standard,
is far more widely and accurately educated in
business affairs than the average American
merchant. The latter may have more Of the
enterprise that ''goes it blind" and dashes in
to make spoon or spoil horn" taking big
risks for the possibility of achieving big re-
results, but the trained English, Scotch or
German merchant knows more about the
principles of business, the laws of political
economy the details of trade and how to ap-
ply them so as to produce the best results
with reasonable certainty. This difference
may be partly due to national character, but
their more thorough methods of business
training and education have much to do with
it. By degrees, probably, as the country
grows older and business becomes more set
tied and conservative, we shall approximate
European methods and standards in this re-
gard.
The consul at Amsterdam sends statement
from leading merchant and importer Of that
city relative to different American manu-
features, wherein they are defective or might
be improved, etc. This Amsterdam mer-
chant thinks American manufacturers are
largely to blame for the slow growth Of Amer
lean trade in Europe. The points he particu-
larly calls attention to are the lack of artistic
taste in design and finish, negligence in de-
tails, and the apparent desire to produce a
cheap and Catchy" article rather than a solid
and durable one. What he says in regard to
the item Of trunks, travelling bags and leather
goods is SO indicative of the difference between
European and American taste that we copy it;
sThe American share in this branch of
trade could be largely increased in Europe il